A Lift for the Nation's Oldest Stone Barn

In New Lebanon, NY, on the Mount Lebanon Shaker Society property sits the remains of one of the largest stone barn in the country. Built in 1859, the stone barn was constructed by hand using materials such as local chipped field stone and dolomite, sourced from the surrounding land. From 1787 to 1947, the Shaker community at Mount Lebanon was the most successful communal society in America. It was here that the Shaker’s lived the utopian life of gender and race equality and where they honed the famous Shaker aesthetic of simplicity. The Shakers, being master builders, originally built the barn to play a central role in the community. In the 1940’s the community disbanded and the barn and surrounding buildings fell into disrepair. In 1972 the barn suffered a fire, burning all elements made from wood and leaving the interior, of the then abandoned barn, gutted and charred, a crumbling stone shell.

“Shaker workers, led by the barn's designer, North Family Elder Frederick Evans (1803-1893), built the barn on a steep hillside. A 250-foot walk down the hill to the western end reveals a structure that towers five stories above the barnyard. Some of the stones used in the construction are so large they would be difficult even today to transport and put in place.

‘They cleverly understood the benefits of using gravity,’ said Michael C. Mucci, project superintendent for Allegrone.”

Allegrone Masonry has been brought on to help with the $1.9 million stabilization project, which aims to restore and preserve this historical landmark. It is a pleasure to work on a project that has such deep local roots, but also something which was built by New England’s historically famed builders.

Read the full article here: The Times Union, September 1, 2013